Pre-Packing

Did some pre-packing. Seeing all that has to go into my two bags and my carry-on makes me worried I won't fit it all. Bags have got to be less than 50lbs each and no more than 62 inches when you combine W x L x H. 

I created a pile of things that I won't take if I don't have room for them. Things like additional games (leaving the twister, those cute knit snowballs (seeing how there is no snow in Madagascar), a second book on card games, a second mosquito net (one will be given us in country).

This has also gotten me thinking more about the now certainty of going and how we're just 19 days away. I've come up with a list of things I'd like to do before I leave - mostly it's just stores or restaurants I'd like to go to one last time.

I didn't post earlier that I had received my airline reservations. Now departing Salt Lake City on Monday the 13th of February for Washington DC. After a full day of orientation, we depart on Wednesday the 15th for Madagascar via West Africa on Ethiopian Airlines.

I had been told on December 21st that the US medical team had cleared me but would send my records to Madagascar staff to confirm. More than a month later and having received plane tickets, I can only assume that I am good to go. I can't imagine they take it this far without a good clean bill of health along with all the other clearances including legal and dental which was previously cleared.

There's a lot of chatter on the "What's App" that some of the cohort is using. In the past week or two it was mostly discussion about those who were denied departure because of health. Some hadn't gotten confirmation from the Peace Corps if they were medically or legally cleared (their background check). Now it's shifting to advice on what to buy, what to bring, what to wear and the expected weather. And opinions vary. I find it interesting that occasionally it appears that some haven't done their homework on the types of things that will serve them well in Madagascar. I think few realize how their decisions or lack of homework may cost them if their luggage is too large or their power banks don't actually do what they are hoping them to do.

Unfortunately, for most of them - they may not have the opportunity to fly back to the states once or twice or have someone come out and resupply you with what eventually is discovered necessary or helpful.

We do have a contact there in country, Kathryn Grehl - an agricultural PCV who arrived in the earlier group and is letting us know the reality of now. Inflation has caused the volunteers to ask for more money to get through their monthly food and transportation allowance. Also tattoos don't seem to be as much of an issue as we had been told by staff. But then it may only seem to be nothing but actually is something. Again we're hearing this from a PCV who has only been in country a short time and the tattoo issue may not affect her. 

She says it is colder and wetter than she would have thought. The weather reports I see say the average low is 48 degrees which yes, is cold but not like a real winter in most parts of the US. I have to often disconnect what I'm thinking of bringing and doing with what others will or are planning to do. I think we will all discover what we eventually bring and think we need will be exactly right and in some cases will also be wrong. There's a lot of guessing going on here.